Japanese nuclear accident injures workers

Schoolchildren are escorted by their mother as they leave a school near the uranium processing facility on Thursday

October 1, 1999
Web posted at: 12:34 a.m. HKT (1634 GMT)

In this story: Residents told to stay indoors Early accident in same area RELATED STORIES, SITES

TOKYO (CNN) -- At least 14 workers were exposed to radiation Thursday when a leak developed at a Japanese nuclear reprocessing plant. Three of the workers were hospitalized and thousands of nearby residents were warned to stay indoors.

The Japanese government asked the U.S. military to help deal with the accident that may not be under control. The United States turned down Japan's request, saying U.S. forces were not equipped to handle the situation.

AUDIO Journalist Peter Hadfield reports from Japan: Reaction still continues 162 K/15 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Japan asks U.S. military for help 366 K/40 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Japan uranium leak

Officials said workers at the uranium-reprocessing plant in northeastern Japan inadvertently caused a nuclear reaction when they mixed too much uranium in a storage tank.

Two workers were injured critically in the town of Tokaimura, about 70 miles (120 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.

Radiation levels in the area skyrocketed immediately after the accident, up to 4,000 times higher than normal inside the plant and 10 times higher than normal outside the facility.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka said late Thursday that there was "strong possibility" of a "criticality incident" -- meaning the point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining.

Nonaka said that the accident could be the worst in Japan's history.

Kyodo news agency, quoting senior government officials, said Japan had decided to seek U.S. aid because Japan lacks experience in accidents of this type.

An aerial view shows the JCO uranium processing plant in Tokaimura

Journalist Peter Hadfield told CNN that emergency crews were hampered in their efforts to stop the reaction because radiation levels in the area were too high.

Officials evacuated people in the area immediately surrounding the plant, and warned people within a six-mile radius to stay indoors.

Residents were warned to wash themselves thoroughly if they were touched by a light rain that officials said was carrying radiation from the air.

The workers at the plant reported seeing a blue light, and then they became ill. They were first taken to a local hospital, and later flown to a hospital that specializes in radiation sickness.

Hisashi Ouchi, 35, and Masato Shinohara, 39, were listed in critical condition, hospital officials said. The two were in a state of shock with fever and diarrhea.

Yutaka Yokokawa, 54, was alert and walking, the officials said.

The accident was not the first in Tokaimura. A "very serious" fire and explosion occurred on March 11, 1997. Officials said the fire was extinguished within 16 minutes, but that some radiation escaped.

Thirty-seven workers suffered radiation poisoning in that accident.

The village of Tokaimura, with a population of around 34,000 people, is home to 15 nuclear-related facilities.

The 1997 accident prompted Japanese nuclear industry trade unions to call for closer supervision of the industry.

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